Freight Facts and Figures 2009

Tables 3-3 and 3-3M. Trucks and Truck Miles by Average Weight: 1987-20021

The nation’s truck fleet has grown significantly in number and distance driven. Of trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds registered to businesses, individuals, and organizations other than government, most growth has occurred at either end of the weight spectrum. Distance traveled has more than doubled in 15 years for trucks weighing between 10,000 pounds and 26,000 pounds and for trucks weighing over 80,000 pounds. Trucks between 60,000 pounds and 80,000 pounds form the largest category in both number of trucks and vehicle miles traveled because in most cases 80,000 pounds is the maximum weight allowed on the highway system without special permits.

Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009.

1Excludes trucks with an average weight of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.

Notes:

1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles; 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds. Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009.